Continuing civil disorder and violence are almost certain. Terrorism may follow. Islamists fought a similar campaign against the Mubarak dictatorship two decades ago. Washington’s best policy is to support neither side and leave resolution of this tragic conflict to the Egyptian people.

The great foreign policy illusion in Washington is that the U.S. government controls international events. Will U.S. officials never learn? The answer apparently is no. Just look at Egypt, where American policy combines equal parts hypocrisy and futility. Yet, the administration proclaims that it must continue to hand $1.55 billion annually to the generals in Cairo to preserve its influence.